Valve



Oct. 18, 1932.

S. E. ALLEN ET AL @www Patented Oct. 18, 1932 PATENT oFFlcr.

'UNITED STATESV sco'r'r E. ALLEN VALVE Application led November 6, 1981?; ,Serial No. 493,760.

This invention relates to a valve; and it is a general object of the invention to provide a practical and dependable valve that may be manually operated, or that may be operated f by fluid under pressure.

The present invention is concerned primarily with a valve that is provided with a holding means that normally retains the valve in the closed position, and that is releasable manually or automatically, by fluid -under pressure, to permit openingof the valve. The valve is such that the holding means referred to is adapted to be operated or released by fluid pressure, which may be generated by an electrically controlled device of the character fully described and claimed in our co-pending application for Letters Patent entitled ,Electrically controlled actuating device, filed April 30, 1930, Serial Number 448,673. 'The valve is particularly well suited for use in a lire extinguishing system where the provision of a valve that may be manually operated or that may be operated by a remotely controlled electrically actuating device, or the l5 like, is desirable. Throughout the following detailed description, the invention will be disclosed in forms particularly suited for use in a fire extinguishing systeml where a gas, such as carbon dioxide, is normally held un der pressure in the system and may be discharged upon the opening of the valve by manual means or by manually or thermostatically controlled electrically actuated means.

It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as restricted in scope to the particular forms about to be descrlbed or to the references herein to their uses.

. It is an object of the invention to provide a valve that may be quickly and easily opened manually, or that may e opened by fluid under pressure external to the fluid yheld by the valve.

It is another object of the invention to provide a valve of the character mentioned that embodies a manually releasable latch for retaining the holding means in the unactuated position, and means whereby the Huid ressure automatically releases the latch 50 and irectly operates the holding means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a valve of the character mentioned that p is eiective in normally holding fluid under hi h pressure without leakage.

t is another object of the invention to provide a valve of the character mentioned in which the. means for holding the valve closed and the releasable latchfare particularly easy to release and operate manually.

Itis another object of the invention to provide a valve of the character mentioned that is dependable in operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve of the character mentioned that embodies but few simple, sturdy parts and that is simple. and inexpensive of manufacture.

Further objects and features of our invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of 7o t pical forms and applications of the inventlon, throughout which description reference will be had to the accompanying drawing,` in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the valve pro- 75 vided by the present invention, illustrating the upper portion of the device in cross section. Fig, 2 is an end view of the valve, illustrating the upper portion in cross section, as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 so is a reduced vertical detailed sectional view of the upper portion of another form of the invention.

The embodiment of our invention, illustrated in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, in- 85 cludes, generally, a valve 10 having a control or operating stem 11, a head or body 12 mounted on the valve 10, means 13 carried by the body operatively engaging the stem 11 for normally holding the valve closed, man- 9 ually releasable latch means 14: for releasably holding thoI means 13 in the closed position, means 15 for supplying or generating fluid pressure, and means 16 operable by the fluid pressure generated by the means 15 for re- 95 leasing the latching means 14 and for operating the means 13 to permit opening of the valve 10.

In accordance with the broader principles of the invention, any suitable type of valve a typical valve embo proper maybe embodiedin the invention.

l form of we have illustrated ying a body 17 having a fluid passage 18. A fluid or gas su ply conduit 19 is connected with one end o the valve body 17 lto discharge into the fluid passagev18, and a discharge conduit 20 is connected with the other end of the valve tol receive fluid from the passage 18 when the valve is o ened. A valve seat 21 is provided in the va ve body 17 around the passage 18. The operating stem 11 bod 17 and carries at its inner end a head 22 or co-operating or sealing with the seat 21. The valve stem 11 projects from, what we wclluld term, the upper end of the valve l The head or body 12 may be mounted directly on the valve body '17. In the preferred the invention the body 12 is arranged on the upper end of the valve body in the osition usually occupied by the bonnet of t e valve. The body 12 may be an integral block or member having a fiange 23 on its lower end, clamped onto the up er end lof the valve body 17 by a clampin s eeve or nut 24. In the preferred embo iment of the invention, the body 12 is round 1n cross sectional configuration, and its upper end is rounded or substantially semi-s herical. A-central o ening 25 is provided in t e lower end of the Ody 12 to slldably carry the projecting portion of the valve stem 11.

he means 13 normally holds the valve stem 11.in a down position Where the 'valve is closed and is operable manually, or by the means 16, to a position where the head 22 and the stem llmay be raisedl to an open position by the Huid pressure in the conduit 19 and the receiving end of the 18. The valve holding means nature of 26 rotatively mounted in a transverse opening 27 in the body 12. The shaft opening 27 intersects or communicates with the upper end ofthe opening 25. An eccentric portion Throughout the drawing or cam 28 is provided on the shaft 26 interthe-shaft 26. Stu s mediate its ends for co-operating with the upperend of the valve stem 11. In the par- .tlcularcase illustrated, the cam 28 is formed so thata substantially cylindrlc the valve is closed permits upward move- 4ment of the stem when the shaft 26 isero- I tated to a position where the cut-away port is above the end of the stem. f

,The means 13 includes a handle 29 norv mally at the upper end of the body 12. The handle 29 is provided with s aced arms 30 arranged at opposite sides oi) the body 12.

he arms 30 project downwardly from the handle 29 and are o ratively connected with 31 are provided at the :,asaroovl extends into the valve uid passage 13 is in the. a ca'm means and includes a shaft.

ltween the knob vand project are polygointo correopposite endsE of the shaft 26 from the body 12. The studs 31 nalin -cross section and extend spondingly shaped he arms 30, mar be secured to the shaft 26 bhscrews 33, t readed into the studs 31.

h en the shaft 26 is in the rotatlve position w ere the cylindric e stem 11, the handle 29 projects upwardly from'the upperend of t e body 12. The handle 29 is preferably shaped so that it 'may be readily grasped; for example, it may be rounded in cross sectional configuration.

The releasable latch means 14 is provided to normally retain the handle in the up position where the cam 28 holds the valve stem 11 in the down or closed positionf The latch means 14 includes a rod 34, slidably carried in a central longitudinali opening in the hanrdle 29. The lower portion of the o ening 3`5 is'of enlarged diameter, and a latc head .36 is carried by the rod 34 to slidably operate in the enlarged portion of the, opening. The latch head 36`normallf'y projects from the inner or lower side o the handle 29 and extends into an opening 37 in the body to hold the handle against movement. A stop bushing 38 may be arranged in the opening 37 to limit the downward movement ofl the latch head 36. A helical spring 39 ing 35, above the latchhead 36, to yieldingly hold the latch head in Ithe down position where it co-operates with the openin 37. A handle or knob 40 may be provi ed onv the upper end of the rod 36. It will be apparent how the latch head 36 may be released from the openin 37 by pulling upwardly on the knob `40, an how the valve stem 11 may be released for upward movement by swinging the handle 29 downward after releasing the latch 36.

e present inventionl provides a means whereby the latch 36 may be released from the opening 37 upon the handle 29 being engaged or grasped by an operator. In the construction illustrated, a lever 41 is pivotal'- ly mounted on the handle 29, and is adapted to be operated to act upwardly on the knob 40 when the handle 29 is engaged or grasped. The lever 41 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in a longitudinal recess or groove 42 in the side of the handle 29. The upper arm 41Il of the lever 41 extends be- 40 and the upper end of the handle, and a slot 43 is provided at its end for assing-the rod 34. The lower arm 41" of trhe lever normally projects from the `groove 42, and is adapted to be depressed' into the groove to cause upward movement of the arm 41* and the knob 40 to release the means 16. 'y

The device or means 15 is provided to supply iuid pressure for ioperating the means normally sockets 32 in the arms 30.

` with" the any A stem 50 projects er 46 and extends through the stop upon the release of 16 to release the latch 36yand to swing the handle 29 downwardly. the drawing, we have illustrated an electrically actuated device 43 ,of the character set forth in our copending application, Serial Number 448,673, for generating a gas pressure in the body 12. It is to be understood that in accordance broader aspects of the invention, suitable means may be embodied in the' invention for supplying fluid pressure*` to the device for actuating the means 16. The device 43 is illustrated in the drawing in a general manner, and is in .the nature of a plu screwhreaded into the outer end ot a c amber 44 in the ody 12. The device 43 closes the outer end of the chamber 44 and projects outwardl from the body. An explosive or highly iniammable material is provided within the device 43, and is adapted to be ignited upon electrical current being supplied to or passed through the electrical conductors 45 extending into the de- Upon current being passed through the wires or conductors 45, the explosive material is ignited and a high pressure is generated within the chamber 44.

The means 16 is o erable by the pressure generated by the evice 43 to automatically ing 37 and to operate the handle 29 to the down position where the valve is free to open. The means 16 includes a lunger 46, slidably carried in the opening 3 below 7 of reduced diameter 44 and the inner end of the opening 37. The plunger 46 is normally yieldingly held in a position where its lower end is at the inner end of the opening 37 by a spring 48, arranged under compression between the plunger and the sto 38. upwardly from the p ungbushinv lower end of the latch head 36. When the means is operated, `the plunger 46 is forced upward by pressure from the chamber 44 to cause the latch head 36 to be disengaged from the opening 3 The handle 29 is operated downwardly` by the pressure generated the chamber 44 38 to engage the in the latch head 36 from the opening 37. A vplate or web 51 extends between the arms 30, forming a vane or bucket whichr tits the upper portion of the body .12.

The bucket web 51 maybe continuous with the lower end of they handle 29, and its inner side maybe shaped to effectively engage over a portion of the semi-spherical top of the body. A port 52 extends from the opening 37 he body 12. communicates with the openingl37 at a point where it is normally closed by t e plunger 46, and is uncovered when the plunger is force upwardly by thev gas under pressure in the chamber 44. The outer end of the opening 52 is covered or closed by the bucket web -29 downward. In

release the latch head 36 from the openp 'The port 52 P when the handle 29 is in the up position. When the device 43 is actuated and pressure is generated in the chamber 44, the plunger 46 is forced upwardl to release the latch 14 and gas is discharge through the port 52 to act on the bucket web 51 to swing the handle the preferred form of the invention, the port 52 is inclined upwardly and outwardly, so that the gas is discharged from the port in a direction to effectively act on the bucket web 51.

Itis believed that the operation of the form of the invention illustrated in the Figs. 1 and 2 will be readily apparent from the forcgoin detailed description. When the parts are 1n thev ositionillustrated in the drawing, the su stantially cylindric part of the cam 28 is in engagement with the end of the stem 11 to hold the valve head 22 in tight sealing engagement with the seat 21 to prevent the passage of fluid through the fluid passage 18. The latch head 36 may be disengaged from the opening 37 either manually by raising lever arm 41". After the latch has been reually to rotate the shaft 26 and bring the cutaway or reduced portion of the cam above the valve stem 11, so that the fluid under pressure in the .passage 18 is free. to unseat the head 22 and discharge through the conduit the knob 40, or by depressing the 20. When the device is to be operated by n the actuating plug 43, current is passe throu h the wires to cause the explosive material within the plug to be ignited to generate a gas pressure The gas under pressure in the chamber44 forces the plunger 46 outwardly so that the port 52 is uncovered and the latclihead 36 is s raised out of the opening 37 by the stem o the plunger. The pressure in the port 52, or discharging from the yport 52, acts against the bucket web 51 and swings the' handle 29 downwardly to rotate the shaft 26 to bring the reduced portion of the cam tace 28 above the stem so that the valve head 22, may be unseated by the fluid under pressure in the passage 18. v

In Fig. 3,0 the drawing, we have illustrated a form of the invention which includes a body 12a having a transverse opening 7 0 rotatively carrying a cam shaft 71. The cam shaft 71 may be similar to the shaft 26 described above, and its cam face normally holds the valve stem 11 in a position Where the valve is closed. Arms 72 are operatively connected to the shaft and carry a handle late 73. The plate 73 is normally disposed at one side of the body 12EL and is releasably held in this position by a latch 74, pivotally d mounted on the upper end of the body. 'The latch 74 is constructed so that it may be manually raised to release the handle plate 73,

51 and the'plate 73 is such that it can be readily within `the chamber 44.

the valve.

A chamber 44Il is provided in thebody 12'* and an actuating device is screw-threade 1nto the outer end of the chamber.v The acth tuating device 75 may be an electrically operated device of the same character as the device 43, and is operable to generate gas under ressure within the chamber 44". In this orm of the invention, the means for releasing the latch 74 and for operating the:han dle 73 includes plunger 76 slidably arranged in an opening 77 in 'the body. The openin 77 communicates at its lower end with.y the chamber 44. A stem 78 is provided on the plunger to engage the latchv 74. The plunger T7 is normally retained in its down position by a spring 79 arranged under compression in the opening 77. A port 80fcommunicates with the opening 77 at a point adjacent its inner .end and discharges from the body to direct fluid under pressure against the innen f side of the handle 73.

pon actuation of the device, 75, gas under pressure is discharged into the chamber 44 and operates the plunger 77 outwardly to f release thc latch 74 and uncover the port 80.

he gas discharged through the port 80 acts outwardly against the handle plate 73 to operate the handle plate downwardly and to rotate the shaft 70. Downwardly swinging of the handle plate 73 brings the shaft to a rotative position where the reduced part of the cam face is above the end of the valve l stem 1la so that the valve is free to o en.

It is to be noted that the present invention provides a construction wherein the valve is normally held tightly closed, and that may be operated either manually or by fluid under the valve. The latch open. The gas under pressure, into the chamber in the body, acts to automatically and rapidly release the-latch and operate the cam means to a position where the valve is released.

discharged tion where the stem is free to move to permit thefpassage of fluid through the valve.

In combination, a valve having an operating stem, a member releasably holding e stem in a position where the valve is fluid pressure means independent of the fluid -handled by the valve for opersage of fluid through the valve.

In combination, a valve having an operating stem, retaining means for holding g the stem in position where the valve is closed and operabletq a position Where the valve 1s free to open, releasable means for holding t re said retaining means against movement,

open.

4. In combination, a valve having an operating' stem, a member operable relative to the stem for releasably holding the stem in fluid pressure for releasing the latch and directing fluid directly against said, member to operate it to a position where the stem is free to move. y

5. In combination, a valve having an operating stem, means for retaining the stem in a position where the valve is closed, a manually releasable latch for releasably holding the said means against movement, and means independent of the fluid handled by the valve for generating fluid pressure for releasing the latch and for directly operating the first-mentioned means to a position where the stem is free to move.

6. A device of the character described, in-

` operating ressure to release the latch and crate, the cam operating member to a posit1on where the valve is free to open.

7. A device of the character described, including a valve having an operating stem,

the port and operable by fluid pressure to re and uncover the port.

8; A device of the 'character described, inr cluding a valve having an operating stem,

p a body cn the val-vc having a chamber, means body for normally retaining carried by the the stem in position Where the valve 1s closed, a manually releasable latch for releasably holding the Asaid means against movement,

means for supplying gas under pressure 1n 'the chamber, there being an opening in the body communicating .with the chamber and 'a port communicating with the opening and adapted to discharge fluid against the lirst mentioned means,

normally closing -the port-and operable by 'Huid pressure to release the latch and uncover the port.

- 9. A device of the character described, .in-

cluding a valve lhaving an operating stem, a body on the valve having a chamber, a cam rotatably carried by the body for normally holding the stem in position where the valve s closed, a handle operativelyconnected with the cam, va latch for releasably holding the handle against movement, means for dis- .to discharge iluid from charging iluid under pressure into the chamber, there being a port in the body adapted v the chamber against the handle to operate' it, and a plunger slidably in the body normally closing the port operable by the fluid pressure latch and uncover the port. l

l0. A device of the character described, including a. valve hailing* an operating stem, a body on the valve having a chamber, a cam rotatably carried by the body for normally holding the stem in a position where the valve is closed, a handle operatively connected With the cam, a manually releasable latch for Vreleasably holding the handle against movement, means for discharging iluid under` pressure into the chamber, there being a port in the bodyto discharge iluid Jfrom the chamber against the handle to operate it, and a plunger slidable inthe body normally closing the port operable by the luidunder pressure to release the latch and uncover the port.

1l'. A device of the character described, including a valve having an operating stem, a body on the valve having a chamber, a cam rotatably carried by the body for normally holding the stem in position where the valve is closed, a handle operatively connected with the cam, a latch for releasably holding the handle against movement, including a rod slidably carried by the handle, a hea-d on-the rod adapted to co-operate with an opening in the body, means for discharging iluid under and means 1n the opening -handle against to release the latch' from the opening and to luncover the the cam, a latchfor releasably holding the.

handle against movement, remotely controlled means for discharging fluid under pressure into'the chamber, there being a rt in the body adapted to discharge lui trom the chamber against the handle to ope ate it, and 'a plunger slidable in the body oberable b the fluid under pressure to release the lato and uncover the port I13. A device of the character described,in cluding aavalve bodyT on the valve having a chamber, a cam rotatably carried by the body for normally holding the stemm a position where the valve is closed, a handle operatively connected with the cam, a latch for releasably holding the movement, electrically actue ated means for discharging fluid under pressure into the chamber, there being a port in the body adapted to discharge fluid from the chamber against the handle to operate it, and a plunger slidable in the body normally closing the port operable bythe fluid pressure to release the valve and uncover the port.

14. A device of the character described, in-

cluding a valve havingy an operating stem, a body on the valve having a chamber, a cam rotatably carried by the body normally holding the stem in position where the valve is closed, a handle on the cam, a latch releasably holding the handle against movement, means for discharging iluid ,under pressure into the chamber, there being a port in the body adapted to direct fluid under pressure from the chamber against the handle to rtate it, and a plunger slidable in an opening in the body normally in osition where it closes the port, and operable by fluid pressure rom the chamber to release the latch from the handle andto uncover the port.

15. A device of the'character described, including a valve having an operating stem, a body on the valve having a chamber, a cam rotatably carried by the body normally holding the stem ina position where the valve is closed, a handle on the cam, a latch pivotally mounted on the body for releasably holding the handle against movement, means for discharging luid under pressure into the chamber, there being a port in the body .adapted to discharge fluid under pressure from the chamber against the handle to rotate the cam, 'andfa plunger slidable in an opening in the body normally in position Where it closes the portA operable by fluid `pressure from the chamber to release the latch from. the handle and to uncover the port.

Ve i We amm" 16. A device of the character described, including a valve having an 4o rating stem, a body on the valve having a` c amber, a cam rotatably carried by the bod normally hold- 5 ing the stem in a position w ere the valve is closed, a handle on the cam, a latch releasably holding the han e against movement, means for discharging fluid under pressure into the chamber, there being a port adapted to dis- ;05 charge uid under pressure from the chamber against the handle to operate it, a plunger shdable in an openin in the body, and means normally yieldingly olding the lunger in osition where it closes the ort, t e plunger gein operable by fluid un er pressure from the camber torelease the valve and uncover the port.

17. In combination, a valve having a slidable operating stem, means for retaining the 0' stem in a position where the valve is closed, lndmeansl for directing a jet of Huid directly yv ere the stem 1s free to move to permit the passage of fluid through the valv g5 1 l18. combination, a valve having an o erating stem, means forl retaining the stem 1n a position-where the valve is closed, a sliding latcli for releasably holding the saidmeans l against movement, and means forgenerating 3o 'fluid pressure for acting `on the latch to move it to released position and operating the rst-mentioned means to a position where the stem is free to move.

witness that we claim the foregoing we 35 have hereunto subscribed our naines this 23d day `of October, 1930. I SCOTTJE. ALLEN. OZRO N. WISWELL. 

